Election day may be weeks away, but in several states, including key battleground states, voters are casting their ballots before then through early voting.
As of October 17, over 8.8 million people have cast their vote early, according to data from University of Florida Election Lab.
Election data has shown that the number of voters who choose to cast their vote early has steadily risen and for the first time surpassed Election Day voting during the 2020 election.
Some states allow absentee voters to drop off their paper ballot at an approved location or at the election office in person before November 5.
Other states and the District of Columbia will have polling places where voters can cast their ballots in voting machines in the weeks leading up to Election Day.
Here are the dates for early voting.
Political science experts say early voting helps reduce long lines on Election Day and gives voters more options.